Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder

ABSTRACT

A beverage container holder is disclosed which includes a magnet within the sleeve of a beverage container holder. The beverage container holder, along with any beverage container placed in the beverage container holder, may be mounted on any mounting surface having an associated ferrous material. The beverage container holder is held in place due to the force of the magnetic interaction between the magnet and the mounting surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. §120of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 10/382,459, filed Mar. 5, 2003,entitled “Magnetized Beverage Container Holder”, and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/866,326, filed Nov. 17, 2006, of the same title, which isincorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to holders for beveragecontainers, and more specifically, to a magnetized beverage containerholder used to secure a beverage container to a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In numerous situations, for several reasons, people drink beverages frombeverage containers, such as boating, tailgating, working, etc. Forexample, while boating a person may be exposed to heat and sun forseveral hours, and remaining hydrated is important. In many of thesesituations, finding a place to store the beverage container in which thecontainer will not be inadvertently spilled or knocked over can beproblematic. On a boat, for example, simply placing a beverage containeron a flat surface is often unsatisfactory since the container may tipover as a result from typical movement of the boat rocking on the water.Likewise, when operating heavy machinery during construction or farmingoperations one might find it difficult or even impossible to retain abeverage without spilling. Similarly, at picnics or other outdoorgatherings, placing a beverage container on the ground may result inspilling as a result of a person or animal inadvertently kicking thecontainer.

Numerous container holders exist which attempt to solve theabove-mentioned problems. For example, holders exist for the attachmentto platforms, such as boats, in which a beverage container may beplaced. Such holders are typically secured to the platform by screws,for example. While such a holder provides a place for container storage,it also has disadvantages. For example, the holder is permanentlysecured in one place on the platform, thus providing limited flexibilityfor storing such beverage containers. While additional holders may beinstalled in areas which are most convenient for such storage, theadditional holders may cause clutter in those areas. Furthermore, if aperson wishes to be in an area which does not have a holder installed,that person must either hold the container, or store the container inarea which does have a holder, which may be inconvenient for the persondue to having to move to the other area every time they wish to drinkfrom the container. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a holderfor a beverage container which is able to be moved from place to placewith relative ease, and which helps to prevent inadvertent spilling ofthe beverage container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments andconfigurations of the present invention. The invention provides a methodand apparatus for mounting a beverage container holder to a mountingsurface. The beverage container holder includes a magnet and may bemounted to any mounting surface which contains a ferrous material insufficient quantity to produce sufficient attraction to the magnet tosecure and hold the beverage container holder, and beverage container,to the mounting surface.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a beverage containerholder, including a holder which is adapted to receive a beveragecontainer and a magnet operatively associated with the holder andoperable to interact magnetically with a mounting surface. The magnet isoperable to secure the holder to the mounting surface such that the sideof the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to, andpreferably, along substantially the entire height of the side, incontact with the mounting surface. The mounting surface may besubstantially vertical, thus holding the beverage container holder andbeverage container in a substantially upright position. In oneembodiment, the holder includes a pouch on the holder adapted to receivethe magnet and secure the magnet to the holder. In another embodiment,the magnet is secured to the holder using adhesive. In anotherembodiment, the magnet is embedded within the holder, and the holderincludes a visual indicator and/or surface texturing indicating thelocation of the magnet within the holder. The magnet preferably has atotal force of at least about 800 and more preferably about 800-12,300gauss.

The mounting surface includes a ferrous material, and in one embodiment,the mounting surface is a ferrous material. The mounting surface mayalso include a non-ferrous material with a ferrous material adjacentthereto which interacts with the magnet to secure the holder to themounting surface. The ferrous material may be secured with a rivet orother mechanical fastening device.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for securinga beverage container to a mounting surface. The method includesproviding a holder adapted to receive the beverage container, the holderbeing operatively engaged with a magnet, and placing the holder adjacentto the mounting surface. The magnet is operable to interact with themounting surface and secure the holder and beverage container to themounting surface, with a side of the beverage container being at leastsubstantially parallel to the mounting surface.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method ofmanufacturing a holder for a beverage container. The method ofmanufacturing includes forming a sleeve portion of the holder, with thesleeve portion being adapted to receive the beverage container. A magnetis secured to the sleeve portion in a position such that the side of thebeverage container is substantially parallel to a mounting surface whenthe beverage container is located in the sleeve and the holder isengaged with the mounting surface. A base portion may be formed andsecured to a first end of the sleeve, substantially closing the firstend of the sleeve. The sleeve portion may be formed by injection moldingan insulation material into a sleeve form. The sleeve portion may alsobe formed by stitching end portions of a rectangular fabric together toform the sleeve portion. A pouch may also be stitched to the sleeve, thepouch being adapted to receive the magnet, and the magnet inserted intothe pouch. The magnet may also be secured to the sleeve with anadhesive, where the adhesive is applied to at least one of the magnetand the sleeve portion, the magnet is positioned against the sleeveportion, and the adhesive is cured to secure the magnet to the sleeveportion. The magnet may also be secured to the sleeve by inserting themagnet into a preformed aperture in the sleeve.

In yet another aspect, the holder is manufactured entirely usinginjection molding, particularly Reaction Injection Molded (“RIM”)techniques. The magnet is mounted on an interior paramagnetic,superparamagnetic, metamagnetic, ferrimagnetic, or ferromagnetic (e.g.,ferrous-containing) surface of the mold. The mounting surface istypically in the shape of a pin or protrusion. In the mounted position,the magnet is spaced from a surrounding interior mold surface. With theexception of the protrusion, the mold is preferably otherwise notparamagnetic, superparamagnetic, metamagnetic, ferrimagnetic, orferromagnetic, or magnetically attractive, and even more preferably isdiamagnetic or superdiamagnetic. In this mariner, the magnet is retainedin a desired orientation relative to the mold surfaces during resininjection. As will be appreciated, the magnet may be retained in adesired position and orientation in the mold during resin introductionusing, instead of magnetic attraction, a friction fit between theprotrusion and magnet. The mold may be an open or closed mold. Resin isthen introduced into the mold while the magnet is magnetically engagedwith the protrusion. After the resin has cured and cooled, the holder,which contains the magnet embedded in the sidewall of the holder, isremoved from the mold. The removal force applied to the holder is, ofcourse, greater than the magnetic force of attraction between the magnetand the protrusion.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a beverage containerholder including holding means for holding a beverage container, andmounting means for mounting the holding means to a mounting surface. Themounting means is secured to the holding means such that, when thebeverage container is located in the holding means and the holding meansis mounted to the mounting surface, a side of the beverage container isat least substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mountingmeans may include a magnet which is secured to the holding means.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a system forholding a beverage container. The system includes a beverage container,a holder adapted to receive the beverage container, a magnet operativelyengaged with the holder, and a mounting surface operative to engage withthe magnet and secure the holder to the mounting surface. When theholder is secured to the mounting surface, a side of the beveragecontainer is substantially parallel to the mounting surface. Themounting surface may be substantially vertical.

In yet another embodiment, the exterior surface of the holder adjacentto the magnet is flat or substantially planar and is coplanar with atleast a portion of the outer cylindrical surface of the holder. Thisprovides an expanded area of contact with the mounting surface in thearea of the magnet and additional contact area along a height of theouter cylindrical sidewall of the holder. The outer surface of theholder may be textured, roughened, to provide increased frictional forcealong the contact area between the holder and the mounting surface. Inone configuration, the texturing is effected by sandblasting the innersurface of the mold at least in the area adjacent to the holder contactarea. The mold surface will be pockmarked, thereby imparting a roughenedsurface to the holder.

In yet another embodiment, a magnet assembly includes first and/orsecond polarized materials and a paramagnetic, superparamagnetic,metamagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and/or ferrimagneticbacking plate. The backing plate preferably contacts the magneticmaterial and is adjacent to, or faces, the interior of the holder todecrease the magnetic force of attraction to the beverage container.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of theinvention(s) contained herein.

The above-described embodiments and configurations are neither completenor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of theinvention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or moreof the features set forth above or described in detail below.

As used herein, “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “oneor more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B andC together.

It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or moreof that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “atleast one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be notedthat the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be usedinterchangeably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holder forone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a pouch adapted to receive a magnet for oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holder foranother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holder foranother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holdermounted to a mounting surface for one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holdermounted to a mounting surface for another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holdermounted to a mounting surface for another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a non-ferrous surface havinga strip of ferrous material attached thereto according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a non-ferrous surface havinga number of ferrous plates attached thereto according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional illustration of a beverage container holderhaving an embedded magnet according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holderhaving an embedded magnet and a visual and textured magnet locationindicator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional illustration of a beverage container holderhaving an embedded magnet according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holderhaving multiple magnets for an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holderhaving a magnetic strip according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holderhaving multiple magnets for one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional illustration of a beverage container holdermounted to a mounting surface in which the mounting surface and beveragecontainer holder include a bar magnet;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional illustration of a beverage container holdermounted to a mounting surface in which the mounting surface and beveragecontainer holder include a disk magnet;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional illustration of a beverage container holdermounted to a mounting surface in which the mounting surface and beveragecontainer holder include interlocking clips;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a beverage container holder according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the beverage container of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the beverage container of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is another side view of the beverage container of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the beverage container of FIG. 19;

FIGS. 24A and B are, respectively, plan and side views of a magnetaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 25A and B are, respectively, plan and side views of the backplate;

FIG. 26 is an isometric view showing a magnet assembly comprising themagnet and back plate;

FIG. 27 is a disassembled view of a mold according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 28 is an assembled view of the mold of FIG. 27; and

FIGS. 29A-J are a series of pictures depicting a process formanufacturing the beverage container of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an illustration of a beverage container holder 20of one embodiment of the present invention is described. The beveragecontainer holder 20 includes a sleeve 24 into which a beverage container28 may be placed. The beverage container holder 20 also includes amagnet 32 which is secured to the sleeve 24. The beverage containerholder 20 may also include a base 37 which helps to prevent the beveragecontainer 28 from sliding completely through the sleeve 24 and canprovide additional insulation. The magnet 32 serves to mount containerholder 20 to any mounting surface. As used herein, mounting surfacerefers to any surface to which the beverage container holder 20 may bemounted. Mounting surfaces include paramagnetic, superparamagnetic,metamagnetic, ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic and antiferromagneticmaterials (e.g., ferrous materials), and diamagnetic or superdiamagneticmaterials (e.g., non-ferrous materials), which have a paramagnetic,superparamagnetic, metamagnetic, ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and/orantiferromagnetic surface associated with them such that the magnet 32has a sufficient magnetic attraction to hold the beverage containerholder 20 to the mounting surface. A mounting surface may also have asecond magnet associated therewith, which provides additional magneticforce to hole the beverage container holder 20 more securely to themounting surface. In this manner, the beverage container holder 20 maybe mounted in positions which are not necessarily predetermined.

The orientation of the various components is shown in FIG. 5. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, a plane 34 associated with the cylindrical sideof the beverage container 28 is at least substantially parallel to aplane 35 associated with the longitudinal center line 35 of the magnet32, and also at least substantially parallel to a plane 36 associatedwith a planar mounting surface 44. The base 37 of the holder 20 (and thetop 38 and base (not shown) of the beverage container 28) is at leastsubstantially normal to the plane 36 of the mounting surface 44.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the magnet 32 is affixed to the outersurface of the sleeve 24. The magnet 32 may be affixed in any of anumber of ways. For example, in one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2the sleeve 24 comprises flexible fabric or foamed resin, and includes apouch 39. The pouch 39 is also formed of flexible fabric, and is securedto the sleeve 24 by stitching on at least two sides, and up to foursides. The magnet 32, illustrated by dashed lines, is placed within thepouch 39. In this embodiment, the pouch 39 is sized appropriately suchthat the magnet 32 is secure within the pouch 39, with relatively littlemovement possible, thus providing a relatively secure mount of thebeverage container holder 20 to the mounting surface.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, the magnet 32 is affixedto the sleeve 24 with adhesive 25 (FIG. 17). In this embodiment, thesleeve 24 may be either a flexible material or a rigid material. Themagnet 32 may be affixed to the sleeve 24 by applying adhesive to one,or both, of the magnet 32 and sleeve 24, placing the magnet 32 adjacentto the appropriate area on the sleeve 24, and allowing the adhesive tocure. In yet another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, the sleeve 24 isformed of a rigid material having an aperture 40 designed to receive themagnet 32. The magnet 32 may be placed in the aperture 40, and securedwith an adhesive. In yet another embodiment, the magnet may bemaintained in a desired position and orientation in a mold during resininjection to embed the magnet in the sleeve 24. Alternatively, theaperture 40 may be sized appropriately such that the magnet 32 is heldin place by frictional forces. The magnet may also be affixed in otherfashions, such as, for example, the magnet 32 may be affixed to thesleeve 24 with a hook and loop material. The magnet may also be affixedby a mechanical fastening device, such as a rivet or screw.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the beverage container holder 20 of thepresent invention is illustrated as mounted to a vertical mountingsurface 44. In this embodiment, the mounting surface 44 is a ferrousmaterial. As will be understood, ferrous material is material whichcontains iron, such as steel, and is attracted to a magnet. The magnet32 is of sufficient strength to hold a full beverage container 28, whichis placed in the beverage container holder 20, to the mounting surface44. The magnet 32, in one embodiment, has a total magnetic force ofapproximately 800-20,000 gauss. In one configuration, the magnet has astrength of about 30 to about 45 MGO. The magnet, in one embodiments isa rare earth magnet, with a neodymium 35-containing magnet beingpreferred. A typical formula for such a magnet is Nd₂Fe₁₄B. As will beappreciated, when mounting the beverage container holder 20 on themounting surface 44, it may be mounted in any location on that surface,and hold the beverage container 28 in that position. While theembodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates a relatively large mounting surface towhich the beverage container holder 20 mounts, the mounting surface 44may be only a portion of the surface of a platform.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a platform 48 has anon-ferrous material 52 as the outside of the mounting surface 44 towhich the beverage container holder 20 may be mounted, and a ferrousmaterial 56 located behind this non-ferrous material 52. The non-ferrous(or diamagnetic or superdiamagnetic) material may be any thickness,provided that the flux between the magnet 32 and the ferrous material 56is sufficient to securely hold the beverage container 28. As mentionedabove, for one embodiment the flux between the magnet 32 and the ferrousmaterial 56 is about 800-12,300 gauss. The platform 48 may be, forexample, a boat with the non-ferrous material 52 being fiberglass. Otherexamples of non-ferrous material include plastic, fabric, andnon-ferrous metals. The beverage container holder 20 may be mounted inareas which have the ferrous material 56 located behind the non-ferrousmaterial 52. This configuration may be more aesthetically desirable insome situations where exposed metal is not desired. For example, a boatmay have a strip of ferrous material 56 located around itscircumference, thus creating a mounting surface 44 which extends alongthis strip of ferrous material 56 allowing a beverage container holder20 to be mounted anywhere along this strip around the entire boat.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, ferrous material 56 isbe located in front of a non-ferrous material 52 to form a mountingsurface. In this case, the ferrous material 62 is visible, and thebeverage container holder 20 may be mounted thereon. In one embodiment,the ferrous material 62 is covered with a protective coating in order tohelp prevent corrosion from, for example, salt water. The ferrousmaterial 62 may be in the form of a strip of material, as illustrated inFIG. 8. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the ferrous materialmay be in the form of decorative plates 66 which are mountedperiodically on the external surface of the non-ferrous material 52.Thus, a beverage container holder 20 could be mounted directly on thestrip of ferrous material 62, or on any of these decorative plates 66.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional illustration of a beverage container holder70 of another embodiment of the present invention. The beveragecontainer holder 70 includes an outer sleeve 74 which has an embeddedmagnet 78. In this embodiment, the sleeve 74 of the beverage containerholder 70 includes (foamed resin) insulation which helps keep thebeverage in the container either hot or cold. The magnet 78 is embeddedwithin this insulation, resulting in a sleeve 74 for the beveragecontainer holder 70 which is relatively smooth. The magnet may beembedded in the insulation by positioning the magnet in the mold duringresin injection.

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holder 70,and a beverage can 28, of this embodiment. The sleeve 74 of the beveragecontainer holder 70 may also include a marking 82 or other visualindication of where the magnet 78 is located, allowing a user to quicklyrecognize which side of the beverage container holder 70 should beplaced against the mounting surface in order to mount the beveragecontainer holder 70. In another embodiment, the sleeve 74 of thebeverage container holder 70 includes different surface texturinginstead of, or in addition to a visual indication. The surface texturingmay be imparted to the surface of the insulation during RIM bysandblasting or otherwise roughening a matching surface of the mold.This allows for a user to feel which portion of the beverage containerholder 70 should be placed against the ferrous material. Additionally,the surface texturing may include a material which has a relatively highfriction, such as a rubberized polymer, which helps prevent the beveragecontainer holder 70 from sliding when placed against the mountingsurface.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment, in which the magnet 78 islocated adjacent to the inside surface of the sleeve 74. Such aconfiguration may result in reduced manufacturing costs. Furthermore, ifthe beverage container holder 70 is made of rigid material, an aperturefor receiving the magnet 78 may be molded into the inside surface of thesleeve 74, which may then receive the magnet 78 and secure it withadhesive or frictional forces.

The magnet within the beverage container holder has numerous alternativeconfigurations. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, a beveragecontainer holder 86 may have first and second magnets 90, in a verticalorientation with respect to one another. This vertical orientation ofthe magnets 90 help ensure the beverage container holder 86 does notrotate around a single magnet.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 14, a beverage containerholder 94 includes a magnet 98 which is configured as a vertical stripfrom the top to the bottom of the beverage container holder 94.

In still a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 15, a beveragecontainer holder 102 includes multiple magnets 106 located regularly orirregularly around the periphery of the beverage container holder 102.This configuration allows the beverage container holder 102 to bemounted in more than one orientation relative to the mounting surface.

In yet another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 16, a first polarizedmagnetic material, or first magnet 32, is positioned at the side of theholder while a second polarized magnetic material, or second magnet 118,is positioned on an opposing side of the mounting surface 110. In thisembodiment, the mounting surface includes a diamagnetic orsuperdiamagnetic (or nonmagnetic and typically non-ferrous) material114, and the second magnet 118 located on a side of the non-ferrousmaterial 114, which is opposite the surface which will contact thebeverage container holder 20. The second magnet 118 is a bar type magnethaving a south (or first) pole 122 and a north (or second) pole 126aligned in an vertical orientation. The first magnet 32 of the beveragecontainer holder 20 is also a bar type magnet having a north (or second)pole 130 and a south (or first) pole 132, arranged in a verticalorientation. In this embodiment, the north pole 130 and the south pole132 of the magnet 32 are aligned in an opposite vertical orientation asthe north pole 126 and south pole 122 of the second magnet 118.Accordingly, the first and second magnets 32, 118 are attracted to eachother which works to secure the beverage container holder 20 to themounting surface 110.

Having a second magnet 118 associated with the mounting surface allowsfor a stronger interaction with the magnet 32 and the mounting surface110 than would be present if the mounting surface simply has a ferrousmaterial. Thus, in this embodiment, the non-ferrous material 114 may berelatively thick, and/or the magnet 32 may not be required to be asstrong as compared to the strength of a magnet required to secure thebeverage container holder 20 to a mounting surface not having a secondmagnet.

Another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 17, the holder 20 includes thefirst magnet or polarized magnetic material 32 and the (dimagnetic)mounting surface 136 includes to a second magnet or polarized magneticmaterial 140, associated with a non-ferrous surface 144. The secondmagnet 140 is a disk type magnet including a south pole 148, and a northpole 152 on opposite sides of the disk. The beverage container holder 20includes the first magnet 32, having a north pole 156 and a south pole160 located on opposite sides of a disk magnet. In this embodiment, thesecond magnet 140 is attached to the non-ferrous material 144 of themounting surface 136 such that the south pole 148 is oriented toward thesurface which will contact the beverage container holder 20. The magnet32 is attached to the beverage container holder 20 such that the northpole 156 is closest to the mounting surface 136. Accordingly, themagnets 32, 140, are attracted to each other and secure the beveragecontainer holder to the mounting surface 136. Similarly as describedabove, having the second magnet 140 may allow for a thicker non-ferrousmaterial 144, and/or allow for a magnet 32 associated with the beveragecontainer holder 20 which is not required to be as strong, relative towhat would be required if there were no second magnet 140 associatedwith the mounting surface.

It will be understood that the invention includes further embodimentswhich may have magnets associated with the mounting surface, such as,for example, a mounting surface having multiple magnets associatedtherewith such that the beverage container holder may be mounted invarious positions. Furthermore, the magnet associated with the mountingsurface may be embedded within the non-ferrous material, or may belocated on the side of the mounting surface which contacts the beveragecontainer holder. Furthermore, magnets associated with the mountingsurface may be configured to align with the magnets of the beveragecontainer holders described with reference to FIGS. 13-15.

FIGS. 8-9 depict multiple or elongated second magnetic materials 62 and66 positioned along a length of a diamagnetic or superdiamagneticmounting surface 52 to permit one or more magnetized beverage holders tobe positioned along the reverse side of the mounting surface 52.Suitable markings can be provided on the visible reverse side of themounting surface to permit ready identification of the magnetizedlocation upon which the holder may be positioned.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 18, the beverage containerholder 20 includes a clip attachment 200. The clip attachment 200 isadapted to engage with a clip 204, which is attached to a non-ferroussurface 208. The opposing faces of the clips 200 and 204 are planar. Inthis embodiment, rivets 212 are used to secure the clip 204 to thenon-ferrous surface 208. The clip attachment 200 includes a secondmagnet 216, which is oriented to be attracted to the first magnet 220located in the clip 204. In this embodiment, the beverage containerholder 20, and associated beverage container, are held in position inthe clip 204 quite securely.

FIGS. 19-23 depict a magnetized beverage holder according to yet anotherembodiment. The holder 1900 includes a sleeve 1904 and base 1908. Themagnet 1912 is embedded in the sleeve 1904. The disc-shaped magnet 1912has opposing planar faces, which require the sleeve 1904 to have aplanar face 1916 protruding from the otherwise cylindrically shapedsleeve 1904. As can be seen from FIG. 21, the face 1916 is coplanar witha lower portion 1920 of the cylindrically shaped sleeve 1904. Whenmounted to the mounting surface (not shown), the mounting surfacecontacts not only the planar face 1916 but also the lower portion 1920.This configuration provides a stable triangular-shaped contact surfacehaving multiple points of contact. These multiple points of contactalong at least most of the height of the holder 1900 provides a stablecontact between the holder and the mounting surface. Unlike the holderdesign of FIG. 5 in which the magnet protrudes from the holder 24 andprovides a fulcrum at the lower edge of the magnet, the planar holdercontact area of the holder 1900 does not provide a fulcrum about whichthe holder can rotate in response to gravitational forces exerted on theholder and beverage container. Such rotation can destabilizesubstantially the ability of the holder to maintain a fixed, desiredposition on the mounting surface.

FIG. 23 further shows that the base 1908 of the holder 1900 includes atleast one air passage 2300 to facilitate insertion and removal of thebeverage container from the holder 1900. The passage 2300 provides anescape for air when the container is inserted into the holder 1900 andan entry for air when the container is removed from the holder 1900. Inthe absence of such a passage, the user would need to force the beveragecontainer into the holder with sufficient force to cause air to beexpelled at the flexible interface between the holder and container, andforcibly remove the container from the holder with sufficient force toovercome any suction, or negative pressure, caused by void spacecreation between the container base and holder base.

FIGS. 24A and 24B depict an embodiment of a magnet according to anembodiment. The magnet 2400 includes first and second polarized magneticmaterials 2404 and 2408, which are integral with one another (though thematerials 2404 and 2408 may be in the form of separate magnetsoptionally connected together). In one configuration, the materials arepart of a common magnetic disc and created when the disc is magnetized.A hole 2412 is positioned at the center of the disc to reduce the amountof magnetic material needed for the magnet. At the location of the hole2412, the first and second polarized magnetic materials are separated bya nonmagnetic material (e.g., air). As can be seen from FIG. 24B, thefirst and second polarized materials 2404 and 2408 have opposing polarorientations. In other words, the first material 2404 has first andsecond poles 2416 and 2420 positioned at first and second surfaces 2424and 2428, respectively. The second material 2408 has first and secondpoles 2416 and 2420 positioned at second and first surfaces 2428 and2424, respectively. In other words, the magnet 2400 has more than twopoles. Additional poles may be provided depending on the application.

The magnet is preferably a rare earth magnet from Neodymium Iron BoronN35H. As will be appreciated, Neodumium, in its unprocessed state, is apowder that is not magnetized. The powder is pressed into a mold undertons of pressure to compact the powder to form the shape of a magnet.The magnet is then magnetized in a machine that applies a very strongmagnetic field, polarizing the magnet with at least one pole. As noted,in the preferred design multiple poles are formed on the opposing facesof the magnet by magnetizing a common disc of material.

FIGS. 25A and B depict a base plate 2500 that is received on one of thefirst and second surfaces 2424 and 2428. The base plate 2500 ispositioned on the surface of the magnet facing the interior of theholder or the beverage container. The base plate 2500 is preferably aparamagnetic or superparamagnetic material but can be a diamagnetic orsuperdiamagnetic material depending on the application.

FIG. 26 shows a magnet assembly 2600 including the magnet 2400 and baseplate 2500. The base plate 2500 “short circuits” the flux on the reverseside of the magnet assembly 2600 and thus causes the magnetic flux linesto be altered. Flux lines pass through the base plate 2500 but aredisplaced into the plane of the base plate 2500 or towards themagnet-containing side of the plate 2500. This causes the flux lines toproject further outward on the side of the magnet opposing the baseplate. Preferably, most of the flux lines pass through the mountingsurface. In other words, the magnetic force adjacent to the first (orreverse) surface 2504 of the plate 2500 is less than that adjacent tothe second surface 2508. This effectively decreases any magnetic forceapplied to beverage containers having magnetic properties whileincreasing the magnetic force of attraction with the mounting surface.

The process to manufacture the holder 1900 will now be discussed withreference to FIGS. 27, 28, and 29A-J.

Referring to FIG. 27, the mold includes a cap mold 2700, side mold 2704,and base mold 2708. The cap mold 2700 engages the side mold 2704 andincludes a plurality of vent holes 2712 for removal of air and excessresin and an alignment cap pin 2716 that engages, in a male/femalerelationship, a matching feature 2720 in the base mold. The base mold2708 includes a paramagnetic or superparamagnetic protrusion 2724emanating from a side surface of the base mold. The magnet assembly 2600engages and is retained, through magnetic attraction, by the protrusion2724 during resin injection. To avoid disorientation of the magnetassembly during resin injection, the force of attraction between themagnet assembly and the protrusion exceeds that between the magnetassembly and any other portion of the mold assembly and the lateralforces exerted on the magnet assembly by the resin during injection andcuring. Preferably, the cap mold 2700, side mold 2704, and base mold2708 are formed preferably from a diamagnetic or superdiamagneticmaterial, with aluminum being more preferred. To provide furtheralignment, the base mold 2708 includes a cylindrically shaped alignmentring 2728 which engages, in a male/female relationship, a cylindricallyshaped groove 2732 in the side mold 2704.

The manufacturing process will now be described with reference to FIGS.29A-J.

Referring to FIG. 29A, the interiors of the cap mold, side mold, andbase mold are sprayed with a mold release agent. The mold release agentis either an oil-based or water-based formula that generally evaporatesafter the molding has been completed. Because the holder will be printedafter molding, water-based mold release is preferred as it produces abetter surface for ink adhesion.

Referring to FIG. 29B, the interior surfaces of the cap mold, side mold,and base mold are sprayed with an outer color coating used to hidedefects in the foam color mixing. The RIM process requires the mold tobe sprayed with a mold release and color coating to hide the mixingcolor swirls of the two-part resin. This produces a uniform colorproduct that is removed easily from the mold.

Referring to FIG. 29C, the magnet assembly 2600 is positionedmagnetically on the protrusion 2724 (which is preferably steel). As canbe seen from FIGS. 25A-B and 26, the backing plate 2500, which faces thebase mold 2708, includes a central passage 2504 which receives theprotrusion 2724. The hole 2412 in the magnet further receives theprotrusion 2724. As noted, the magnet assembly 2600 is attractedmagnetically to the steel in the protrusion 2724 and remains in astationary, fixed position during resin injection and curing. As can beseen in FIG. 29C, the plane of the backing plate 2500 is parallel to andspaced apart from the adjacent surface of the base mold 2708. Theprotrusion includes a step to provide the proper stand off distance fromthe adjacent interior surfaces of the mold.

Referring to FIG. 29D, the side mold 2704 is inserted into the base mold2708 and clamped into place.

Referring to FIG. 29E, a two-part foam resin is introduced into theinterior cavity defined by the base mold 2708 and side mold 2704. Thecavity is filled to about ⅔ full, depending on the expansion propertiesof the resin. The density of the foam can vary depending on the foamtype, heat and ambient weather conditions.

Referring to FIG. 29F, the cap mold 2700 is inserted onto the top of theside mold 2704 and clamped into place.

Referring to FIG. 29G, heat is applied to the mold assembly toaccelerate the foam expansion and curing process. The foam expands andescapes out of the vent holes 2712 on the top of the cap mold 2700.

Referring to FIG. 29H, after the foam has cured (which typicallyrequires from about 1 to about 15 minutes depending on mold temperatureand resin formulation), the cap mold 2700 is removed.

Referring to FIG. 29I, the side mold 2704 is removed.

Finally, referring to FIG. 29J the beverage container holder 2900 isremoved by stretching the sidewall containing the magnet over theprotrusion. Since the insulation in the holder sidewall is flexible, itmay be deformed readily for removal from the base mold after RIM iscompleted. As can be seen from the above figures, the magnet assembly isembedded fully in the sidewall of the holder with the exception of asmall hole from the protrusion used to hold the magnet assembly in placeduring RIM.

The holder 2900 may then be printed with desired designs using multiplescreen printing techniques. The magnet, during printing, is used as anindex. The insulation material in the holder can withstand a briefexposure up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for the application of thermalgraphics.

Numerous alternatives also exist for the configuration of the beveragecontainer holder. As mentioned above, the holder may be made of aflexible insulation material, or a rigid material. The beveragecontainer holder may have different sizes, in order to accommodatebeverage containers which are different sizes, such as different sizedbeverage cans, bottles, cups, or glasses, for example. As will beappreciated, the container holder is fixed in internal and externaldiameter along its height. It cannot be wrapped around the beveragecontainer and adjusted to the approximate diameter of the container.Alternatively, the beverage container holder may be expandable oradjustable to receive different sized beverage containers. Furthermore,the beverage container holder may be large enough to completely coverthe beverage container, having an aperture for a straw, or having azipper or other closure device which may be opened in order to accessthe beverage within the beverage container. Although much of thedescription is directed to a multi-pole magnet, it is to be understoodthat a single-pole magnet may also be employed.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. Althoughthe description of the invention has included description of one or moreembodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variationsand modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g. as may bewithin the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understandingthe present disclosure. The features of the embodiments of the inventionmay be combined in ways or designs other than those discussed above. Itis intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments tothe extent permitted, including other feature combinations, alternate,interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or stepsto those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/orequivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein,and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subjectmatter.

1. A beverage container holder, comprising: a cylindrical holder adapted to receive a beverage container, the holder comprising an insulation material to retard the passage of thermal energy to and/or from the container; and first and second polarized magnetic materials positioned at a side of the holder, the first and second polarized magnetic materials each have first and second poles, the first pole of the first polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the second pole of the second magnetic material and the second pole of the second polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the first pole of the second magnetic material, the first and second polarized magnetic materials being operable to secure said holder and beverage container to said mounting surface wherein, when mounted to said mounting surface, the side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to said mounting surface, wherein said mounting surface is substantially vertical and engages the side of the holder containing the first polarized magnetic material, and wherein a magnetic force of attraction at an interface between the holder and the mounting surface is sufficient to overcome a gravitational force exerted on the beverage container and the holder, whereby the holder, when supporting a beverage container, remains at least substantially stationary on said mounting surface.
 2. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the holder has an upper and a lower half, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are positioned only in the upper half of the holder, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the holder adjacent to the first polarized magnetic material is coplanar with an elongated portion of the lower half of the holder, the elongated portion of the holder extending substantially an entire height of the lower half of the holder.
 3. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the holder has a base to support the container, a height above the base, the holder having a fixed diameter along substantially the entire height, wherein said first polarized magnetic material is embedded within said holder such that a first layer of the insulation material is positioned between the first polarized magnetic material and the mounting surface when the holder is in contact with the mounting surface and a second layer of insulation material lies between the magnet and the beverage container.
 4. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein said first and second polarized magnetic materials are each secured to said mounting surface, wherein the holder is not wrappable, and wherein the holder contains the beverage container.
 5. The beverage container holder of claim 4, wherein said magnetic force of attraction is at least about 800 gauss and wherein said first and second polarized magnetic materials each comprise neodymium
 6. The beverage container holder of claim 4, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are spaced apart from one another.
 7. The beverage container holder of claim 6, wherein said holder includes a visual indicator on an outside surface indicating the location of said first polarized magnetic material and wherein an outer face of the holder adjacent to the first polarized magnetic material is substantially planar.
 8. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein said holder includes surface texturing on an outside surface of the holder adjacent to the first polarized magnetic material and wherein the surface texturing is in the insulation material.
 9. The beverage container holder of claim 6, wherein said magnetic force of attraction of the first polarized magnetic material ranges from about 800 to 12,300 gauss.
 10. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein an exterior portion of the holder is adjacent to and covers a face of the first polarized magnetic material and wherein at least most of the exterior portion of the holder is planar to engage the mounting surface.
 11. The beverage container holder of claim 6, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are separated by a nonmagnetic material.
 12. The beverage container holder of claim 4, said first polarized magnetic material is positioned adjacent to a side wall of the beverage container and at a distance from the ends of the beverage container when the beverage container is contained in the holder and wherein said mounting surface is a ferrous material.
 13. The beverage container holder of claim 4, wherein said mounting surface is a non-ferrous material with a ferrous material located adjacent thereto and wherein said non-ferrous material is located between the first polarized magnetic material and the ferrous material.
 14. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the opposing first and second poles of the first and second polarized magnetic materials define a magnetic flux therebetween and wherein a backing material is positioned between the first and second polarized materials and the insulation material.
 15. A method for securing a beverage container to a mounting surface, comprising: providing an insulated holder containing said beverage container, the holder having a sleeve portion, a base portion, and first and second polarized magnetic materials positioned at the sleeve portion, the first and second polarized magnetic materials each have first and second poles, the first pole of the first polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the second pole of the second magnetic material and the second pole of the second polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the first pole of the second magnetic material; and placing said holder adjacent to and in contact with said mounting surface, wherein said first and second polarized magnetic materials magnet maintain said holder and beverage container in a desired position and orientation on said mounting surface, wherein said mounting surface is substantially vertical and engages the side of the holder containing the magnet, wherein a side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface when the holder is in contact with said mounting surface, wherein a layer of insulation material is positioned between the first polarized magnetic material and the mounting surface when the holder is in contact with said mounting surface, and wherein a magnetic force of attraction at the interface between the holder and the mounting surface is sufficient to overcome a gravitational force exerted on the beverage container and the holder, whereby said holder and beverage container remain stationary at the desired position on the mounting surface.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are positioned only in an upper half of the holder, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the holder adjacent to the first polarized magnetic material is coplanar with an elongated portion of the lower half of the holder, the elongated portion of the holder extending substantially an entire height of the lower half of the holder.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the sleeve portion has a height above the base portion, the holder having a fixed diameter along substantially the entire height and wherein the holder is cylindrically shaped.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein said magnetic force of attraction is at least about 1200 gauss and said magnet comprises neodymium.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the sleeve portion of the holder is not wrappable about the container.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein said first polarized magnetic material is embedded within said holder such that a first layer of insulation material lies between the first polarized magnetic material and the mounting surface and a second layer of insulation material lies between the first polarized magnetic material and the beverage container.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein said magnetic force of attraction ranges from about 800 to 12,300 gauss.
 22. The method of claim 15, wherein said mounting surface is a non-ferrous material with a ferrous material located adjacent thereto and wherein the non-ferrous material is positioned between the first polarized magnetic material and the ferrous material.
 23. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are spaced apart from one another and separated by a nonmagnetic material.
 24. The method of claim 15, wherein said holder includes surface texturing on an outside surface of the holder adjacent to the first polarized magnetic material and wherein the surface texturing is in the insulation material.
 25. The method of claim 15, wherein an exterior portion of the holder is adjacent to and covers a face of the first polarized magnetic material and wherein at least most of the exterior portion of the holder is planar to engage the mounting surface.
 26. The method of claim 15, wherein said first and second polarized magnetic materials are located in an upper half and not a lower half of said holder and wherein a backing material separates the first and second polarized materials from insulation material.
 27. A system for holding a beverage container; comprising: a beverage container; an insulated holder adapted to receive said beverage container, the holder having a sleeve portion, a base portion, first and second polarized magnetic materials positioned at the sleeve portion, and a height above the base portion, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials each have first and second poles, the first pole of the first polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the second pole of the second magnetic material and the second pole of the second polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the first pole of the second magnetic material, and wherein the holder has a fixed diameter along substantially the entire height; and a mounting surface operatively engaging said magnet and thereby securing said holder to said mounting surface, wherein said mounting surface is substantially vertical and engages the side of the holder containing the first polarized magnetic material and wherein a layer of the insulation material is positioned between the first polarized magnetic material and the mounting surface when the holder is secured to the mounting surface, and wherein a magnetic force of attraction at the interface between the first polarized magnetic material and the mounting surface is sufficient to overcome a gravitational force exerted on the beverage container and the holder, whereby, when the beverage container is positioned in the holder, the holder remains at a selected position on the mounting surface.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are located at an upper end of the holder, wherein the opening to receive the beverage container is at the upper end, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials do not extend to a lower half of the holder, and wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the holder adjacent to the first and second polarized magnetic materials is coplanar with an elongated portion of the lower half of the holder, the elongated portion of the holder extending substantially an entire height of the lower half of the holder.
 29. The system of claim 27, wherein said first polarized magnetic material is embedded within said holder such that a second layer of insulation material lies between the first polarized magnetic material and the beverage container.
 30. The system of claim 27, wherein said holder includes surface texturing on an outside surface of the holder adjacent to the first polarized magnetic material and wherein the surface texturing is in the insulation material.
 31. The system of claim 27, wherein an exterior portion of the holder is adjacent to and covers a face of the first polarized magnetic material and wherein at least most of the exterior portion of the holder is planar to engage the mounting surface.
 32. The system of claim 27, wherein the first and second polarized magnetic materials are spaced apart from one another and separated by a nonmagnetic material and wherein a backing material separates the first and second polarized materials from insulation material. 